Stone, Sutter lead the way as Flames blank Oilers 4-0 in pre-season victory
On a night when the spotlight shone on new Calgary Flames stars Nazem Kadri and Jacob Markstrom in their first pre-season appearances, it was journeyman Michael Stone who had the big night.
Stone and Brett Sutter each recorded a goal and an assist to lead Calgary to a 4-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
In camp on a professional tryout, Stone has been with the Flames since being acquired from the Arizona Coyotes at the trade deadline in 2016-17. Since then, he signed a three-year deal that he was eventually bought out from, only to remain in Calgary, signing three consecutive one-year deals.
"This is not a new position for me, so I'm just here, playing like I know how I can play," said the 32-year-old. "Be a good teammate, play well when I get a chance to play and try to make the most of it."
Stone dressed for only 11 regular-season games last season, but shone in an increased role in the playoffs, picking up five points (two goals, three assists) in nine games.
He is competing for a depth role on the blue line where six jobs are already locked up with newcomer Mackenzie Weegar, acquired from the Florida Panthers, Chris Tanev, Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, Nikita Zadorov, and Oliver Kylington.
"I'm just hanging on, really," Stone said. "Play as long as you can, right? So I'd like to stick around here and I'd like to stay in this organization. So that's why I'm here."
Weegar and Jonathan Huberdeau, with an empty netter, also scored for Calgary, which improved to 3-1-0 through the halfway point of its pre-season schedule. Kadri recorded one assist in his Flames debut. The Oilers fell to 1-2-0.
In his first start, Markstrom made 12 saves in 40 minutes of action before giving way to Dustin Wolf, who made nine stops in the final period to complete the team shutout.
'That's good for him," head coach Darryl Sutter said of his No. 1 goaltender. "Get him a couple periods, work him back in. He was solid. He's worked really hard the whole camp."
The Flames surged in front 2-0 in the second period with Sutter, son of head coach Darryl Sutter, opening the scoring on a rebound at 6:56. At 16:36, Stone showed off his heavy shot, ripping a slapper past Stewart Skinner to double the lead.
Kadri, general manager Brad Treliving's prize free agent addition in the off-season after signing a seven-year, US$49-million deal, centred a line with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman.
"You're just used to summer skates. Now you're really trying to dial in the detail and it's expected, right? You're shaking some rust off," Kadri said. "No one's expecting to be in midseason form in September. We're going to continue to work at it and get better each day."
Kadri made his presence felt in the first period when he got out on the Flames' No. 1 power play with Huberdeau, Elias Lindholm, and Tyler Toffoli up front and the new-look four-forward unit hemmed the puck in the Oilers end for nearly the entire two minutes.
"That's the first time we've we've all been on the ice really at the same time against an opposing team or any sort of pressure, so taking that in consideration, we had some good opportunities and we're only going to get sharper," Kadri said. "We're great players and we're going to make sharp plays but I think it takes a little bit of time to find that chemistry."
Calvin Pickard started in net for the Oilers, finishing with 16 saves on 17 shots in playing the first half. In relief, Skinner allowed two goals on 16 shots.
Most of the Oilers' top-end regulars did not make the trip, with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evander Kane among the absent forwards. Darnell Nurse was missing from the blue line and newly signed Jack Campbell also did not make the trip.
Notes: The Flames, who have the day off Thursday, still have 58 players in camp — 33 forwards, 19 defencemen, and six goaltenders.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.